Ewaso Ngiro in Narok County is a semi –arid zone
and sparsely populated area stretching across 153 square kilometers.
Plagued by drought, famine and other effects of climate change resulting in
more and more limited availability of pasture and water. The poverty level is
generally high owing to among other factors; marginalization of women in
economic development, governance and decision-making both at household and community
level. Pastoralism remains the main economic activity of the Maasai
people of this region and continues to support majority of the households.

Looking after the homestead and caring for
children as they wait for their men to return home from the grazing fields is
the routine for most Maasai Women. However, groups of women through Farmer
Field Schools (FFSs) established by Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management
in Agro-Pastoral Production Systems of Kenya Project that is financed by Global
Environment Facility (GEF) and Supported by United Nations Development
Programme - Kenya (UNDP- Kenya) and Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock and Fisheries through the State Department of Livestock. Have defied
this culture and are engaging in income generating activities to improve on
their livelihoods.

Poultry farming in Kenya requires having the right knowledge to be able
to the right things to get the right result. It requires hard work and
prompt attention to details. Poultry Farming is little capital intensive
but if you are starting on a micro scale (Home back yard) where you
have a small space at your back yard, it is not. Starting small is the
best way to enter and learn the business. Before you venture into
poultry farming business in Kenya, you need to seat back and do proper
planning; make sure you have an idea of all the costs involved.
Currently they seem to be no high poultry farms in Kenya like the ones
in Europe, USA and other counties. Any investor who has the needed
capital to venture into it will have reasons to smile within a short
period of time. If you are ready to get started in poultry farming in
Kenya, these are the basic requirements you need to set up your farm.

April 11, 2014

Moringa tree (Moringa oleifera)
has many names throughout the world, likely due to its profligate uses. It is
called the ‘drumstick tree’ due to the shape of its seed pods, the ‘horseradish
tree’ because of the faint scent and flavor of horseradish that the tree’s
roots give off, and the ‘ben oil tree’ drawn from the oil that is pressed from
the seeds. The most explicit of all its names, though, is the ‘miracle tree’
which is inspired by this unassuming tree’s seemingly endless benefits.
Ayurvedic medicine (the millenia-old tradition of herbal and dietary medicinal
practices from India) has long made use of the Moringa, but now, having been
inspected through the lens of modern science it has increasingly come of interest to people all over the
world as a solution to several disparate problems. Having value as a food item,
a medicinal stock, a source of food oil and biofuel, and a water purifier,
there is little wonder why it came to be known as the ‘miracle tree’.

Nearly every part of the tree is in
some way edible. The roots, with their horseradish flavor, are stripped of
their bark because of its high alkaloid content, mixed with vinegar and used as
a condiment (Parrotta, 2009). According to Ted Radovich, young green seed pods
which are high in ascorbic acid are boiled, steamed or pickled like string
beans or asparagus and are a common addition to soups and stews in the tree’s
native areas (2009). The seeds contain 30-35% oil that is high in
palmetic, stearic, behmic, and oleic acids and has similar flavor and
properties to olive oil making it a highly nutritive alternative to other
vegetable oils (Garcia-Fayos et al, 2010). The flowers are also sometimes
eaten, though this practice will prevent seed pod growth. The real nutritional
value of the Moringa tree, however, is in the leaves. Small, tripinnate and
tender, they are similar in appearance to the leaves of North America’s native
Black Locust tree. They are typically eaten or cooked fresh, though powders,
extracts and teas do manage to retain much of the nutritional value of the
leaves. The Moringa leaves’ nutritional contents are eye-popping to say the
least.

The
unprecedented population surge in Kenya has left the country with near 43
million people and continues to steadily increase. This has led to competition
and depletion of land and natural resources. In many parts of the country,
available land is shrinking, either due to urbanization or cultural land
dividing traditions. For many families struggling to make ends meet, the sale
of their land is viewed as the only option. Most households in urban areas
nowadays must depend on ¼ acre plots to meet their daily needs in times when
unpredictable climactic conditions are making it even harder to farm. The
depletion of farm land has caused harsh economic times that result in a rise in
food prices, farm inputs, and animal feeds. These factors have made the production
of enough food unattainable, aggravating hungry and poverty-stricken
households. However, small-scale farmers in urban areas can better utilize
their land through sustainable agricultural methods. These methods are
often low cost, practical, and can contribute to their daily food needs. One of
the best opportunities for small-scale farmers can be through indigenous
poultry production.

The
four main benefits of raising indigenous chickens are:

They are easy to establish for
low-income families.

They are more prolific and
unproblematic to rear on small plots of land.

They are more genetically diverse,
well adapted, and more resistant to local pests and diseases.

They are vital for future food
security, leading towards self-employment and self-reliance.

The
chicken (Gallus domesticus) is a fowl that is said to be one of the most
widely domesticated animals in recorded history. Charles Darwin considered
chickens descendants of a single wild species, the red jungle fowl, which is
found in the wild from India through Southeast Asia to the Philippines. Genetic
analyses have shown that every breed of domestic chicken can be traced to the
red jungle fowl. Scientists estimate that they were domesticated roughly 8,000
years ago in what is now Thailand and Vietnam (Encarta DVD, 2008).

April 10, 2014

Organic poultry may be grown starting
from conventional day-old chicks, poults (young turkeys), ducklings etc.
The parent stock does need not need to be organic, conventional hatcheries may
be utilized to purchase your stock.

Birds must be treated organically from
the second day of life. This includes following all aspects of the National
Organic Standards (I don't know if we have them in Kenya), including 100%
organic feed and using only allowed health treatments.

Organic poultry must have access to the
outdoors, as seasonally appropriate. Outdoor areas don’t have to be vegetated;
however, grass-fed poultry can be an important selling factor in some markets
and is claimed by some to produce healthier birds and better tasting poultry
products. The land used for outdoor access must be certified
organic.

100% certified organic feed is required
and must be either purchased or produced on your own certified organic farm.
All agricultural feed products and the feed supplements must be organic. This
includes secondary ingredients such as soy oil or wheat middlings.
Non-agricultural, natural ingredients, such as kelp, grit, calcium, or fishmeal
must be approved before use in organic operations.

No synthetic preservatives, colors,
flowing agents or dust suppressants are allowed. Feed may not include mammalian
or poultry slaughter byproducts. Adding organic flax meal to your ration
can increase the presence of Omega 3 fatty acids. FDA approved vitamins and
trace minerals are allowed as feed additives. DL-Methionine has been approved
as poultry feed additive for use through October of 2012. Methionine is
necessary for proper feather and egg production.

Hormones and antibiotics are not
allowed in organic meat production. Medicated feed may not be fed. Health
issues should be treated through prevention, as most poultry diseases are very
difficult to treat. Cleanliness is the best form of defense in disease
management. If necessary, only allowed health treatments should be
administered. Healthcare alternatives include homeopathy, probiotics, herbs,
hydrogen peroxide or vinegar in water, organic raw milk or turmeric added to
food for coccidiosis.

Farm biosecurity is very important to
prevent transfer of diseases; from farm to farm, from wild birds to domestic,
and from one batch of poultry to another. When working with multiple flocks on
your farm, move from young to old and not visa-versa. Allow some down-time
between flocks so you can clean and sanitize the equipment and facilities.

·Vaccines are allowed, although mostly used
in larger operations. Typical vaccines that may be considered include:
Newcastle disease, coccidiosis, MG M. gallisepticum and MS M. synoviae.
Vaccines may be administered via water, through the air or orally.

Cannibalism may be caused by
overcrowding or a ration imbalance. Correct these conditions to reduce the
problem. Poultry will peck at bloody spots and will gang up on weak birds. If a
bird is injured, it should be isolated from others and allowed to recover.

Predators can be a significant loss
factor for small-scale poultry production. Predators can include raccoons,
dogs, fox, coyotes, mink, weasels, opossums, rats, and aerial predators
including owls and hawks. Poisons are not allowed. Common control methods
include live-trapping, tightly constructed facilities to prevent access,
electric net fencing, guard animals and flashing lights.

Housing must allow for exercise,
freedom of movement and reduction of stress. Cages are not allowed except for
short periods of time when an animal is being moved from one location to
another. Stationary houses are acceptable, and moveable pens/moveable houses
may be used. Bedding must be certified organic if it is something that
the poultry will typically consume (i.e. hay or straw). Typical bedding
may be wood shavings (not from treated wood), organic corncobs, organic hay or
straw or organic corn fodder.

Processing of meat birds must take
place in a certified organic processing facility. Those processing on-farm may
butcher and sell organic poultry if their processing operation is included in
their farm plan, inspection and organic certification.

Documentation. Records must be kept on:
source of poultry, feed and supplement use and sources, use and source of any
health products, vaccinations, mortalities, outside access, house sanitation
practices between flocks, and sale of finished product. An audit trail is
necessary to show conformation with the National Organic Standards.

Certification. Any operation selling
$5,000 or more in organic product per year must be certified. You must contact
an independent third party certification agency, fill out a farm plan,
and have an annual inspection. For more information see the MOSES.
“Guidebook for Organic Certification” or fact sheet series on certification.

Marketing. Those that receive
certification from an accredited certifying agency may label their poultry as
“certified organic.” Labeling and packaging must meet organic and state
labeling regulations and list the certifying agency. The USDA organic seal may
be used.

More information on small-scale poultry production can be found from ATTRA,
www.attra.ncat.org, and
from the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association, www.apppa.org

Postal Address

Personal profile

A young and vibrant Veterinary Surgeon and a Training Scientist in Applied Parasitology, who is keen on linking research to development through enhancing communication between researchers and livestock keepers, aimed at improving livestock health and production, enhancing food security and ultimately reducing poverty risks and impacts. Dr. Sabuni has a penchant to poultry work, more so in veterinary entomology and protozoology area and to where he is establishing a career as a field based researcher.

My Mission

To strengthen the livelihoods of the resource challenged community through enhancing livestock health and productivity. Access to quality animal health services and good animal husbandry practices will lead to safe and quality animal products, reduction in zoonotic diseases and better human health.